“It is impossible, if no more than one opinion is uttered, to make choice of the best: a man is forced then to follow whatever advice may have been given him; but if opposite speeches are delivered, then choice can be exercised. In like manner pure gold 

Paul Rand, "It is impossible, if no more than one opinion is uttered, to make choice of the best: a man is forced then to follow whatever advice may have been given him; but if opposite speeches are delivered, then choice can be exercised. In like manner pure gold is not recognized by itself; but when we test it along with baser ore, we perceive which is the better."--Herodotus on freedom of discussion. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man., 1950, gelatin silver print and gouache on paper and gouache on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.241
Paul Rand, "It is impossible, if no more than one opinion is uttered, to make choice of the best: a man is forced then to follow whatever advice may have been given him; but if opposite speeches are delivered, then choice can be exercised. In like manner pure gold , 1950, gelatin silver print and gouache on paper and gouache on paperboard, sheet: 18 5⁄8 x 14 in. (47.2 x 35.6 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.241

Artwork Details

Title
“It is impossible, if no more than one opinion is uttered, to make choice of the best: a man is forced then to follow whatever advice may have been given him; but if opposite speeches are delivered, then choice can be exercised. In like manner pure gold is not recognized by itself; but when we test it along with baser ore, we perceive which is the better.” – Herodotus on freedom of discussion. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man.
Artist
Date
1950
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sheet: 18 5⁄8 x 14 in. (47.2 x 35.6 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Container Corporation of America
Mediums
Mediums Description
gelatin silver print and gouache on paper and gouache on paperboard
Subjects
  • Literature — Herodotus
  • Portrait male — Herodotus
  • Figure male — fragment — face
  • Occupation — education — historian
Object Number
1984.124.241
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1984.124.241

Works by this artist (13 items)

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John James Audubon, Washington Sea Eagle, ca. 1836-1839, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. S. Dillon Ripley II and Mary Livingston Ripley, 1994.121
Washington Sea Eagle
Artist
Dateca. 1836-1839
oil on canvas
On view
John James Audubon, Joseph Bartholomew Kidd, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, n.d., oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U. S. National Museum, 1953.3.4
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Artist
Daten.d.
oil on canvas
On view
Image Not Available
Norwegian Rats
Artist
Date1845
hand-colored lithograph on paper
Not on view
John James Audubon, Julius Bien, Barn Swallow, 1860, chromolithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Museum of Natural History, Division of Birds, Smithsonian Institution, 1975.20.4
Barn Swallow
Artist
Date1860
chromolithograph on paper
Not on view

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Still Life
Artist
Date1931
watercolor on paper
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Mary Vaux Walcott, Hedysarum (Hedysarum sulphurescens), 1917, watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1970.355.185
Hedysarum (Hedysarum sulphurescens)
Artist
Date1917
watercolor on paper
Not on view
Andrew Wyeth, Chimney Beams, 1950, watercolor on wove paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Henry Ward Ranger through the National Academy of Design, 2023.54
Chimney Beams
Artist
Date1950
watercolor on wove paper
Not on view
Robert Green, January Lark, 1986, watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1995.19.3
January Lark
Artist
Date1986
watercolor on paper
Not on view